Barring Muslims refugees

Concerning the McCarran-Walter Act passed in 1952: Note that Sen. Pat McCarran and Rep. Francis Walter were Democrats, and this act was used by President Jimmy Carter, no less, in 1979 to keep Iranians out of the United States.

The main reason for this act was because Iranians were holding our people hostage in the American embassy. But Carter actually did more.

He made all Iranian students already here check in, and then he deported a bunch.

Seven thousand were found in violation of their visas, 15,000 Iranians were forced to leave the United States in 1979.

There are many important municipal elections scheduled this year throughout Miami-Dade County. The impact of those elections on local residents spans across many issues, like personal safety and security, taxation, and neighborhood recareation programs.

Because these issues often affect the quality of residential life and the delivery of municipal public services, residents should take more than passing interest in who their candidates are and what they stand for. It is most important for all of us to become informed and vote.